Spring-tire.



T. H. KIP.

SPRING TIRE.

APPLICATION FILED 11211.23, 1914.

1,128,330. Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTC-LITHO., WASHING TON. D C,

THOMAS H. KIP, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SPRING-TIRE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led April' 23, 1914. Serial No. 833,844.

T0 all whom t may concern -Be it known that I, THOMAS H. KIP, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, borough and county of Bronx, in the State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Spring-Tires, of which the following is a specication.

The invention relates to tires for the wheels of automobile and like vehicles, and the object of the invention is to provide simple, economical means whereby the required resiliency is obtained by metallic springs within the tire, and the objectionable features of the pneumatic tire are avoided.

The invention consists in certain novel features of arrangement and details of construction by which the above objects are attained, to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specilication and show an approved form of the invention.

Figure l is a vertical section through a wheel-rim and shoe and the mechanism inclosed by the latter, certain portions being shown in elevation. The remainingflgures are on a larger scale. Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the rim and shoe and inclosed portions, partly in elevation, the plane of section being indicated by the line 2 2 in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a similar View Jtaken on the line 3 3 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a portion.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the iigures.

The mechanism comprises a built-up annulus of metallic parts, in which circumferentially arranged springs form an important feature, inclosed in a shoe which is adapted to be attached to a rim.

A A are tubes, each a segment of a hollow ring, having a central transverse partition A1. In the form shown in the drawings, six of such tubes are employed equally spaced annularly. In each end of each tube A is a segmental cylindrical plunger B, curved to match to the interior of the tube A and fitting movably therein. The adjacent outer ends of each pair of plungers B B are drilled and tapped, one with a righthand thread and the other left, to receive a correspondingly threaded bolt C by which the pairs of plungers may be drawn toward each other or separated as required, by turning the bolt through themedium of a central hub or boss C1 having radial holes 0 adapted to be engaged byva suitable tool.v

Between the inner end of each plunger B and the partition A1 in each tube A, is

Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

enough larger than the tubes A to receive the latter telescopically therein. The sleeves extend across the spaces between the ends of adjacent tubes, inclosing such ends and also the bolts C C, and each sleeve has an opening e permitting the insertion of the tool used in turning such bolts. Each alternate sleeve is corrugatedl on'the inner face,

as at El, and each intermediate sleeve is corrugated on its outer face, as at E2, the corrugations in each case extending circumferentially about half the circumference of the sleeve.4 The sleeves E E being portions of an annular tube tend to straighten atthe point of `contact with the roadbed,

and by their resistance to such straightening action exert afspring force which aids in affording the desired resiliency. The corrugations E1 E2 on the sleeves engage the yielding rubber shoe by partially embedding themselves therein and tend to maintain the sleeves in position relatively to each other.

A shoe M of vulcanized rubber, of any ap- I f proved type, incloses the above described structure and is joined to a rim N in any f preferred manner. f

The tubes, sleeves, plungers, and springs are introduced within the shoe in a partially collapsed condition, and are then distended by turning the bolts in the direction to separate the connected pairs of plungers, access to the bosses C1 being permitted through the openings e in the sleeves, between the lips of the shoe. The latter is then secured to the rim and the vwheel is ready for service. i

The flattening of the annular shoe at the line of contact upon the relatively plane surface of the road-bed tends to contract or lessen the circumference of the shoe, which 110 shortening of the springs due to the distortion of the shoe and tire caused by such flattening is light, but the springs are stiff and by reason of their connection to each other through the plungers and screw-bolts, are held under strong tension, and the slight shortening of any of the springs is transmitted to and felt by the others, and the whole by reason of its tension is sufficiently sensitive to absorb the shocks to which the wheel is subjected in service.

All the inclosed parts are preferably -f of metal, but other materials may be employed for some portions.

Although the invention is shown as comprising siX tubes A and a corresponding number of sleeves E and bolts C, a greater `or less number may be employed.

I claim l. In a spring tire of the character set forth, a rim, a detachable annular shoe thereon, a plurality of segmental tubes inclosed in said shoe, a plunger in each end of each of said tubes, springs tending to force said plungers from said tubes, and means between the adjacent outer ends of said plungers for separating the latter in opposition to said springs.. 2. In a spring tire of the character set forth, a rim, a detachable annular shoe thereon, a plurality of segmental tubes inclosed in said shoe, each of said tubes having a central transverse partition therein, a plunger in each end of each of said tubes, springs abutting against said partitions and inner ends of said plungers and tending to force the latter from said tubes, and means between the adjacent outer ends of said plungers for separating said plungers in opposition to said springs.

In a spring tire of the character set forth, a rim, a detachable annular shoe thereon, a plurality of segmental tubes inclosed in said shoe, a plunger in each end of each tube, springs tending to force said plungers from said tubes, and a right and left threaded bolt between and engaged in the adjacent outer ends of each pair of plungers for separating the latter in opposition to said springs.

4t. In a spring tire of the character set forth, a rim, a detachable annular shoe thereon, a plurality of segmental tubes inclosed in said shoe, a plunger in each end of each of said tubes, springs tending to force said plungers from said tubes, means between the adjacent outer ends of said plungers for separating the latter in opposition to said springs, and a plurality of segmental sleeves receiving the adjacent ends of each pair of tubes telescopically therein, and inclosing said means.

5. In a spring tire of the character set forth, a rim, a detachable annular shoe thereon, a plurality of segmental tubes inclosed in said shoe, a plunger in each end of each of said tubes, springs tending to force said plungers from said tubes, a right and left threaded bolt between and engaged in the adjacent outer ends of each pair of plungers for separating the latter in opposition to said springs, and a plurality of segmental sleeves receiving the adjacent ends of each pair of tubes telescopically therein and inclosing said bolts, said sleeves having openings in their inner faces to permit access to said bolts.

6. In a spring tire of the character set forth, ay rim, a detachable annular shoe thereon, a plurality of segmental tubes inclo-sed in said Shoe, each of said tubes having a central transverse partition therein, a plunger in each end of each of said tubes, springs in said tubes abutting against said partitions and the inner ends of said plungers and tending to force said plungers from said tubes, a right and left threaded bolt between and engaged in the adjacent outer ends of each pair of plungers for separating the latter in opposition to said springs, and a plurality ofv segmental sleeves receiving the adjacent ends of each pair of tubes telescopically therein and inclosing said bolts, said sleeves having openings in their inner faces to permit access to said bolts.

7. In a spring tire of the character set forth, a rim, a detachable annular shoe thereon, a plurality of segmental tubes inclosed in said shoe, a plunger in each end of each of said tubes, springs tending to force said plungers from said tubes, means between the adjacent outer ends of said plungers for separating the latter in opposition to said springs, and a plurality of segmental sleeves receiving the adjacent ends of each pair of tubes telescopically therein and inclosing said means, each alternate sleeve having external circumferential corrugations extending around the outer portion of its circumference, and each intermediate sleeve having external circumferential corrugations extending around the inner portion of its circumference.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I aiiiX my signature, in presence ofy two witnesses.

THOMAS II. KIP.

Vitnesses:

CHARLES SEARLE, HELEN V. RICE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eaten'ts, Washington, D. C. 

